A ESTRADA is strategically located between Pontevedra and Santiago de Compostela, bordering the municipalities of Cuntis, Campo Lameiro, Cerdedo, Forcarei, Silleda, Pontecesures, Valga, Teo, Padrón, Vedra and Boqueixón. It has an area of 281.8 km2 and a population of 21,972 inhabitants, divided among 51 parishes and 465 hamlets, making it the Spanish municipality with the greatest number of rural population centres.

Due to its central location, it is easy to reach all of Galicia’s main cities from A Estrada: Santiago de Compostela, the region’s administrative and political capital, is only 23 km away, A Coruña, Pontevedra and Vigo. A Estrada is connected with Santiago by means of the AC-841 road and AP-53 motorway (25 minutes by car). The bus company La Estradense runs a daily bus service connecting Santiago and A Estrada.

The local economy is mainly rural, which is where most of the population is located. In relation to the urban area, the furniture industry (which hosts the Galician Furniture Fair) and the retail sector stand out.

HIGHLIGHTS

Cycling and Trekking RoutesThe A Estrada region is ideal for cycling and trekking. The most important cycling routes include the Rapa das Bestas Routes, which runs through natural surroundings featuring mámoas (burial mounds) and the remains of “castros” (Celtic settlements), and the Salmon Route, which goes through the valley of the River Liñares.

Rapa das BestasDeclared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 2007, the Rapa de Sabucedo has been organised in the same way for five hundred years. It is held in the parish of Sabucedo on the first weekend in July.

Fishing PreservesA Estrada has some of Galicia’s most important salmon fishing preserve, such as those of Ximonde, Xirimbao or Sinde, crossed by the Umia and Ulla rivers, which host the International Salmon Fishing Competition in May.

“Pazos” (Country Manors)The most outstanding one is Pazo de Oca, declared a Historic-Artistic Monument. Although it is privately owned, you can visit its gardens to enjoy its Paseo de los Tilos (Lime Tree Walk) and hundred-year-old camellias, some of which are the oldest in Europe.